| The battle of Bussaco was the deliberate result of a plan made by Wellington by which the French troops under Marshal Masséna were enticed to give battle in a position chosen by the allies. Wellington had concentrated his troops along the Bussaco ridge which runs to the Mondego river and it was to the summit of this that the French were forced to climb, in mist, on the morning of the 27th September. Five attacks were mounted during the four hours of battle and although the French losses were severe, over 4,600 killed, wounded or prisoners - they were not severe enough to tempt Wellington himself to attack Masséna's veteran army. Over 300 French officers were among the casualties, the highest percentage in the war, four generals being wounded and one killed. The allied losses were 1,252, about half of whom were Portuguese. |
